Hot YA reads

Swapna Krishna is a freelance writer, editor, and book reviewer. She has been blogging about books at S. Krishna's Books since 2008. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband. Find her on Twitter at @skrishna and on her blog at www.s...

What's sizzlin' this summer in YA fiction

YA (or young adult) fiction is the hottest thing in reading right now. With the success of books like The Hunger Games, more adults are turning to these novels for quick, easy entertainment. As a result, these books aren't being written just for teens anymore -- here are five hot YA picks that will thrill adult readers just as much as teenagers.

WakeAmanda Hocking

Amanda Hocking found success as a self-published author before signing a contract with a traditional publisher. Wake is the first book in a brand new series featuring a teenage girl named Gemma. While it may sound like a mermaid novel -- after all, Gemma loves being in the water and the name of the series is Watersong -- Amanda Hocking has a few tricks up her sleeve to ensure her series is unique and surprising. If you're looking for some good paranormal/urban fantasy to entertain you, Hocking's novels are always a safe bet.

EnclaveAnn Aguirre

Enclave is another work of teen dystopian fiction. Admittedly, the premise sounds complicated - distant future, life expectancy is under 30 years, people now live in underground enclaves, there are Fates and Huntresses, and all sorts of other complicated titles -- but in the end, it's sure to be an engaging read. Ann Aguirre is a talented author, and her disturbing vision of the future (complete with zombies called Freaks) is one that will keep readers up late into the night.

The Kill OrderJames Dashner

The Maze Runner trilogy was an impressive work of YA dystopian fiction, and now, James Dashner is back with a prequel. He's said publicly that it's a good idea to read the existing trilogy before reading this book (this is one instance where reading books in the order they were written is a much better idea than reading them in chronological order). For existing fans of the series, reading The Kill Order and understanding the world in the trilogy came to be is an absolute no-brainer. If you're interested in exploring more YA dystopian fiction, or novels set in a distant, grim future where the world has become almost unrecognizable, then definitely give The Maze Runner a try.

Throne of GlassSarah J. Maas

Sarah J. Maas' story of how her novel was published is a unique one. Ten years ago, she began posting her fantasy fiction to an online site where writers could interact with readers and receive comments on their stories. Over the next six years, what would become Throne of Glass was extensively reviewed. When it was sold to a publisher, it already had garnered lavish praise and had the book world buzzing. Now, you can read about the fantasy world for yourself. While it doesn't have the complexity of A Game of Thrones, it's a great way to dive into a novel without investing too much time.